Comedian Doug Stanhope has written a typically honest, moving eulogy for comedian Sean Rouse, who died on June 29 following a stroke and a heart attack.

Writing for Vulture Stanhope said that Rouse had died leaving "a large hole in the fabric of brilliant, brave, and sinister comedy, still wearing the thorny crown of 'best comedian you’ve never heard of.'"

He talked about his illness – Rouse had crippling rheumatoid arthritis and lupus – and also his use of drugs and alcohol, adding that "for over two decades he created some of the most unique, adorably morbid, and precisely crafted stand-up comedy I’ve ever watched."

Stanhope recalled how he first met Rouse at the Laff Stop club in Houston in 1997. He was immediately impressed and they soon bonded. They often worked together as part of the uncompromising package show The Unbookables.

He concluded the tribute by saying: "Sean Rouse died after quietly suffering a stroke and then slow-burning that stroke into a heart attack as a closer. Pulling the plug was the tag. Nobody saw any of it coming."

Read the full article here.